Trinket: Definition, Usage & Common Examples

Meaning 1：small decorative item (trinket)

trinket 🔊

/ˈtrɪŋkɪt/

a small, cheap decorative item, like a piece of jewelry or a little ornament, that is not important or expensive.

Trinket definition illustrated by colorful beaded and charm bracelets on a wrist in a market scene.

small decorative item 🔊

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/ˈsmɔːl ˈdekərətɪv ˈaɪtəm/

A small, often inexpensive object valued for its decorative appeal rather than its utility or monetary worth.

📁 Category：Fashion Trends 🔖 Level：Beginner

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

From Old French ‘trenquet’, a small knife or ornament, related to ‘trencher’ (to cut).

💡 Mnemonic

Think of a trinket as a tiny, trinkling thing you pick up as a souvenir or a cheap, shiny trifle.

📖 Example

At the beach market, the little girl bought a colorful shell trinket to wear as a bracelet. 🔊 At the beach market, the little girl bought a colorful shell trinket to wear as a bracelet.

🔗 Collocations

cheap trinket – an inexpensive and decorative small object

souvenir trinket – a small decorative item bought as a memento

shiny trinket – a small decorative object that reflects light attractively

🔄 Synonyms

bauble (n.) – a small, showy trinket or decoration

knick-knack (n.) – a small ornamental object; a trinket

ornament (n.) – a thing used to make something look more attractive

🚫 Antonyms

treasure (n.) – a valuable object, often with significant monetary or sentimental worth

heirloom (n.) – a valuable object that has belonged to a family for several generations

📖 Cultural Story

Often associated with tourist souvenirs, carnival prizes, or inexpensive gifts. In modern culture, trinkets symbolize ephemeral, sentimental, or low-value possessions, contrasting with heirlooms or fine jewelry.